Skip to content

Director of Business Relations,
Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation
– National Employment Team (CSAVR–NET)

Kathy West-Evans is the Director of Business Relations for CSAVR (Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation) where she leads the National Employment Team (The NET). Kathy has her Bachelor of Science from the University of Washington, her MPA from Seattle University and is a nationally Certified Rehabilitation Counselor who is fluent in American Sign Language.

Kathy started in the field of rehabilitation in 1978. Her professional career began at the Hearing, Speech and Deafness Center in Seattle where she managed the Projects with Industry program. She moved to the Washington State Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) in 1983 as a VR Counselor for individuals who are deaf, deaf-blind or hard of hearing. Kathy held a number of positions within DVR during 14-years with the state agency. In addition to being a VRC, she worked as an assistant regional administrator, a regional business relations specialist, and the Statewide Manager for Business Relations and Marketing.

In 1997 Kathy moved to the federal level with the Region X Office of Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA). In RSA, Kathy was employed as a Regional VR Program Specialist, serving as the State representative to Oregon and Alaska. She was also the regional specialist in the areas of employment and business development, the ADA, personnel development, Projects with Industry, training and services to individuals who are deaf, deaf-blind or hard of hearing. She worked nationally on several RSA assignments, including these areas of specialty, serving on the planning committee for the National Employment Conference and several IRI (Institute of Rehabilitation Issues) publications.

Kathy is a Commissioner on the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC). She is also a member of the National Rehabilitation Association and the Brain Injury Association of Washington. Kathy has six family members who have received or are receiving services through the public VR program.

Webinars

  • Guest: Corporate and Organizational Strategy: Utilizing National Resources to Attract and Retain Employees with Disabilities
  • Guest: Corporate Infrastructure: Centralizing the Reasonable Accommodation Process
  • Guest: Corporate Strategy: Providing Accessibility for Employees and Customers
  • Guest: Establishing Linkages to Promote the Recruitment and Hiring of Candidates with Disabilities
  • Host: Creating a Model with Business: Common Sense Approaches to Access and Accommodations